Compressor



M h 2, 1954 L. K. WARRICK ET AL 2,670,894-

COMPRESSOR Filed Oct. 20, 1950 fnz/enZ or-s" IeZ czzuZKZUar-ric/ Z, and i zf alff'l: Flan'ze Patented Mar. 2, 1954 COMPRESSOR Leland K. Warrick,

Muskegon Heights, and Frank E. La Flame, Spring Lake, Mich., assignorsl to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 20, 1950, Serial No. 191,276

6 Claims.

This invention relates in general to refrigerating apparatus and has referenceman improved form of compressor construction therefor.

Otherwise stated, the invention is embodied in refrigerator compressor constructions and is directed to simplify the structural features thereof and their modeof operation and to provide a refrigerant compressor which may readily and conveniently be employed universally to various types of refrigerating systems presently being commercially exploited.

Moreover, thepresent device seeks to employ conventional parts wherever necessary and possible, thereby to effect a further substantial reduction in the cost over the prevailing'types of refrigerant compressors presently being employed.

More specifically stated, it is a general object and accomplishment of the invention to provide a compressor construction which is particularly adaptable for'employment ina refrigerating system of the type wherein a refrigerating medium is circulated through a closed system and is successively compressed in a gaseous state, condensed into a liquid and then expanded by evaporation at a relatively high pressure, the invention being particularly concerned with a compressor of the type generally applicable'for employment for domestic'or other uses where individual units of relatively small capacity are employed and has particular relation to an improved arrangement of parts-'havingspecial application as a combination refrigerant motor and compressor unit.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide amotor compressor combination unit having an improved arrangement of elements forming a sealed housing refrigerant-compressor assembly having the minimum over-all co-axial dimension while maintaining a high efiiciency of operation and effecting a reductionin the cost of manufacturing over that of'similarunits of present manufacture. 1

Another object and accomplishment of the in-' vention is to provide an improved refrigerating system by co-relating and especially designing the various elements of the motor compressor combination units to effectadvantageous cooperation between said improved elements as-will best servethe purpose of system capable of being manufactured at low cost and yet giving the maximum ofsatisfactory service in use. I

A. further object and-- accomplishment of the providing an eflicient' invention is to provide an improved unit designed for refrigeration purposes which shall'have a novel and compact arrangement of parts wherein said parts can be readily assembled and serviced.

It is a more detailed object of the invention to provide a motor compressor unit of theabove type and having an improved lubricating arrangement for insuring the delivery of the necessary lubricant to each of the vital moving parts.

It is another detailed objectand accomplishment of the invention to provide a motor compressor unit for refrigeration purposes and employing an axial air gap motor as a power source.

An ancillary object and accomplishment ofthe invention is to provide a new and improved motor compressor unit which is adapted to be economically manufactured and which is so designed as to permit the manufacture and assembly thereof in accordance with present day large scale mass production manufacturing methods of construction and assembly.

The invention seeks, as a further object-and accomplishment, to provide a' motor compressor unit particularly characterized by a design arrangement to more advantageously and satisfactorily perform the functions required of it and adapted to provide a compact unit which will successfully combine the factors ofistructural simplicity and durability, and yet be economical to manufacture.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention disclosed herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the art after the construction and operation are understood from the within description.

It is preferred to accomplish the various objects of this invention and to practice the same in substantially the manner as hereinafter more fully described, and as out in the appended claims.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a refrigerating system incorporating the refrigerantmotor compressor unit embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a motor compressor unit contemplated by this invention; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the refrigerant motor compressor unit depicted in Fig. 2 and being taken substantially on the plane of the line 3--3 in Fig. 2.

more particularly pointed The drawings are to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the.

purpose of illustrating and disclosing a typical or preferred form of the improvements contemplated herein and in the drawings like reference characters identify the same parts in the several views.

Heretofore, in prior art compressor constructions such units were usually disposed in a machinery compartment forming a part of the lower portion of a refrigerator cabinet. In such applications the specific requirements of space were not of paramount importance and the forward part of the cabinet adjacent the machinery compartment was provided with a hinged vegetable bin in an effort to utilize some of this space. In recent years, the cubicle content of a refrigerator has become a very important item and, therefore, it has become necessary to find ways and means to effect reduction of the size of the mechanical elements of a refrigerator so as to provide, as much as possible, more usable space in the food compartment. It has been found that this can be accomplished in several ways. For example, the compressor may be reduced in size, thereby requiring a smaller machinery compartment, or, because of the reduction in size, the compressor and condenser forming a part of the mechanical structure of a refrigerator may be disposed on the back side of the refrigerator cabinet in the upper regions thereof adjacent the evaporator, thereby eliminatingthe necessity of a machinery compartment in the lower portion of the cabinet. This position of the compressor as described would permit utilization of the space, formerly occupied by the mechanism, as a part of the food storage compartment.

It is recognized that in the prior art numerous attempts have been made to provide a relatively small refrigerant compressor unit and yet maintain the desired capacity of the unit, but to the best of the applicants knowledge, only very few of the prior art structures have had limited successful applications and have been accorded only limited commercial recognition.

It is believed that this fact results from the deficiencies of the prior art structures, and their non-adaptability to effectively overcome the difficulties hereinbefore set forth.

As one possible example of advantageous'employment of the combination refrigerant compressor motor unit, reference is made to the drawings, particularly Fig. 1, wherein there is illustrated the refrigerant motor compressor unit with which the present invention is particularly concerned and designated in its entirety by the numeral as being adjunctively employed, for example, with a conventional refrigerating system designated in its entirety by the letter A.

The illustrated refrigerating system may comprise the compressor HJ, herein shown as bein of the hermetically sealed type and a directly connected condenser ii. After undergoing com pression, the hot refrigerant flows through a discharge line l2 and through the convolutions of the condenser i l which is air-cooled in the conventional manner, this extraction of heat being effective to reduce, in some degree, both the pressure and the temperature of the refrigerant, al though both are quite high compared to normal atmospheric conditions.

After the mixed vapors and liquid refrigerant are discharged from the condenser, they will flow through a conduit [3 into a valving device, which in this particular case is illustrated as a capillary 7 arranged internally of 4 tube or restrictor M, which is connected to an evaporator I5 having a header Hi. It is notable that the refrigerant is throttled in passing the restrictor l4, and, thereafter, will be expanded at the discharge side of the restrictor and will be further expanded in the evaporator so that it will become quite cooled and is, therefore; capable of absorbing heat from the storage compartment of the refrigerator and from the contents thereof. After making its circuitous path through the evaporator, the expanded and expended refrig erant is then returned to the compressor :0 by means of a suction line H, thus completing the closed circuit.

Sufiice it to say, since the invention is not particularly concerned with the precise construction of the entire refrigerating system as illustrated, and/ or its associated parts, they will not be further described in detail, and it is deemed sufficient for all intentions and purposes herein contained to show only portions thereof adjacent to and cooperating with the motor compressor unit contemplated herein. It is to be understood that details of construction of such refrigerating systems with which the refrigerant motor compressor unit contemplated herein may advantageously be employed, and/or their associated parts, may be modified to suit particular conditions or to satisfy the engineering genius of various manu facturers, and we do not wish to be limited to the construction of these elements as set forth except where such construction particularly concerns the invention contemplated herein.

Having thus described, by way of example, a possible adaptation of the sealed motor compressor unit and having described the general environment surrounding the adaptation, the specific construction and function of theparts of said sealed motor compressor unit will now be described in detail.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention depicted in Fig. 2, the compressor i0 is shown as being enclosed within a gas tight housing or casing indicated generally at 22, with an electric motor indicated generally at 24 and which is illustrated as being constructed in part integrally with the casing and arranged as a power source for operating the compressor. The construction of the motor 24 is a unique feature of the invention and preferably is of the alternating current type and adapted to be supplied with electrical energy through suitable conduits 25 operatively connected to the motor windings indicated generally at 26 and which are the casing 22. Electric current may be supplied to the motor for operating the same at intermittent periods and the supply of current to the motor may be under the control of a switch 2'! which is operatively associated with the evaporator or freezer element l5 of the refrigerating system so that the compressor may be operated in such a way as to maintain the temperature thereof, and of the heat insulated compartment within which such evaporator may be arranged, within said predetermined temperature limits.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the compressor ID is arranged within the gas tight casing 22 and the vaporous refrigerant from the evaporator is supplied to the intake side of the compressor through the suction port 28 via the suction line H. The refrigerant is discharged from the compressor into the interior of the casing 22 and the refrigerant is conducted from the casing 22, through the discharge port .5 29- by means. or: the conduit 1 2; to the condenser 11,. "The casingi rfunctions-as aiu'bricant reservoir and the lubricant therein preferably stands to a level. indicated by the line 30 or 3!, in Fig. 2, depending on whether the compressor mounted on a vertical or horizontal plane, and the lubricantis subjected to the discharge pressure of the compressor. Because the refrigerant medium is supplied to the evaporator element l5 under control of a suitable refrigerant expansion controlks'uch, as a low side heat or the like, the space within the casing 22 and thecondenser I I constitute the high pressure side of the refrigerating system. p s, A lubricant is provided for lubricating the working parts of the systenrsuch' as themo'ving parts of "the compressor m, and the motor, and some of the lubricant will: circulate withthe'refrigerantthroughout the system; however, body oflubricant will collect within the lower part o'ftheca'sing 22, andvto such an extent, as to partiallysubinerge the compressorljfl therein. Because the lubricant in the casing is subjected to the discharge pressureoffthecompressor and because thecompressor is .partially submerged in the, lubricanuwthe working parts of the compressor will be lubricated'and sealed.

The casing 22 comprises a cup 'shaped shell and a closure or frame member fdnwhich maybe advantageously fitted intothe mouth. 22d of the shell and welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto, when in operative position, todefine a hermetically sealed casing for the compressor unit. It, is notable that, the frame membe'ril is formed to definejthe shape as shown to take advantagc'of structural strength and save as much space as possible. The frame member'fi comprises a closure plate 4! provided with a flanged centrally disposed through'aperture 42 adapted to receive for fixed securement thereto acentral stud-like support indicated. in its entirety by the numeral 43, said'stud-li-ke' support 43 being arranged to receive ajsuctio'n. line connection and. is provided with suitable channels suchas 65 for the passage of refrigerant. The stud-like member 43 is provided with a sub. stantially circular shaped radially. projecting flange 43a provided with a finished surfacelt which will form an endplate or closure for the rotary compressor, a circular shaped eccentric 41 which can be seen in. Figs. 2-and3as being disposed on center fromIthe central .axis of the compressor, .and projecting axially from said eccentric there is provided a bearing'fls. It is notable that the stator 36 and the-motor windings are suitably secured to the closure member 4t. ,Itis important to understand that the closure member 41,. the stator 38, the studlike support member 43 including theeflangelea, the eccentric 41 and the bearing 43 all remain stationary. v x

. The compressor Ill further includes a cylinder 5%,, a rotor 5.1, a divideric and an end plate 55. Thus, .it canbe seen that the flange 43 a which is provided with the finished suria'cellii, and the cylinder 55 including thev endplatc 155, when assembledv together, form a closed cylin drical chamber -62 or. pumping space; in which the rotor at is arran'ged for rota'tive movement on the eccentric Q47. The. rotor "Si is freely journaled on'the eccentric Gland, it will'be observed, is. oiiless diameter than tlief'pum'ping chamber 62 inwhich itis arrangedr fTherotor 5| is of 'such size,'rel-ativeto thefcyliriderfill g at there is a small wor'k-ing clearance between-the 8 vertical" races-or the'rotor and th'ead'jacent'ver-' tical faces defined by the finished surface an'dthe inside face of theendl'plate 5 5; Also, the diameter-or the rotor 51 is such that there is j a "slight:clearance between the periphery or the rotor 51 and the adj acentcylinder wall of the pumping chamber" 62 at that point where the rotor 51' divides one side of the pumping chamthe other side thereof, as illustrated in Fig. -=ane this clearance is maintained throughout the op'erationof the compressor as theifcyl'indermoves arouncl on-anaxis defined definesimportant differential characteristics or construction heretofore not 'foundin prior art practice.

The d ivider' 54 is "arranged- =-forreciprocation Within S1013 "Hi 3501111661 in the (:Ylildllfilt5alld is disposed so that end pcrtions'thereof are in engagement theperiphery'of the rotor, as inns trated in Fig. 3, so as to separate the suction gas from the discharge gas thefpum'ping chamber divider 5*4 reciprocz'attes. "The; c 1v1der"5 3-pre'ferably is of the same ascension with "respect to thickness as the rctcr'B-I, so that thedivider'fit will: form a movable sea lbetween the 'eripheryof the gotor' 5] "and the walls of the pumping chamber" 2.

The pumping chamber-is provided with an intake port as at H 'a -ndwith at-"discharge port 12 preferably, but not necessarily, controlled by waive as at 13. Th'e dii ider' 54 is reciprocably disposed in the slot t-fl 'a'n'd is guided in -"its'move ment by a spring 14, one end of which being receiv'd 'irftoa recess-ts disposed in "the and nortibns ot the dividf il andm mber end the springbe'in'gheld men'ga'g'em'ent with a wall eefin'dby'a remgeraeteuuet ehamber T5 forming apart of the "cylinder Spring "i i "acts to hold the' di'vider 54 111 contacirwith the peripher or the retort v "The aschal-genera T2 cut into portions er the 'cy linder{*50 f: ridopens into the chamber -F5 ilfwhitih the valve'ie, Which-Controls th'e'discharge port, arranged. It can' bes'een Fig. 2li'l iatthechairriber iddpens 'intz) the stay er the casingWZ. "The valve" {3 .niaytea 'flapvalve or a check-"va lve and "i preferably "anchored "atone ens tereofby'means ofsrews'fasat at.

f In order-to Fprevent a reversal of the pressures during v'zertain uper us of the compressor, there is provideda-s'pri'i pressedvalv'e'se "which is disposed in the suction line and it can'be seen that when the compressor is in operation, the s'uctionfof the refrigerant coupled with the discharge pressure runnin'g through the entire circuit' ofthe refrige1ating'=syistem and entering the suctionfconduit" 28 {will iforcefthe valve to open and permit refrigerant to'how through the com: "When 'the compressor not in opera- *pressuresa'renot-prespressed valve-will be closed to prevent a reverse in the cycle of Ops eration.

Thus, it can be seen that the path of the refrigerant through the compressor is defined by its passage through the suction conduit 28 and past the valve 80 through the conduit 45 and into the compression chamber 62 whereupon the rotary action of the cylinder 50 cooperating with the function of the divider 54 will compress the refrigerant and discharge the same through the discharge port I2 past the valve 13 and into the casing 22 whereupon it may be discharged from the casing 22 by virtue of discharge connections 29 forming a part of the conduit [2.

It is notable that an important feature of the invention is the unique association of parts, particularly the departure from conventional compressors in that the cylinder, which in prior art constructions remain stationary, is rotated in this case which provides an assembled compressor unit of relatively small co-axial dimension giving the advantage of being able to mount the compressor unit on the back portions of the refrigerator cabinet if desired. In some adaptations it may be desirable to mount the compressor assembly in the conventional lower portions of the refrigerator cabinet. In this connection a minimum of space will be required and any savings in space may be transferred to enlargement of the food storage chambers, this being particularly true when the currently popular long door model refrigerators are employed.

The instant motor compressor combination unit, being formed of simple parts and readily available materials, lends itself to mass production manufacturing principles, thus affording a substantial saving in the manufacturing cost.

From the foregoing disclosure, it may be observed that we have provided an improved combination motor compressor unit which efficiently fulfills the objects thereof as hereinbefore stated and which provides numerous advantages which may be summarized as follows:

1. structurally simple, efficient and durable;

2. Economical to manufacture and readily adaptable to mass production manufacturing principles; and 3. The provision of a combination motor compressor for refrigeration purposes employing an axial air gap motor as a power source thereby substantially effecting a reduction in the manufacturing cost thereof while providing an improved arrangement of the elements thereof to provide a minimum over-all coaxial dimension while maintaining a high efficiency of operation and thereby effecting a reduction in the cost of manufacturing over that of similar units of present manufacture.

While we have illustrated preferred embodi ments of our invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but wish to avail ourselves of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A compressor comprising a stud-like support including an integral stationary eccentric, a rotor mounted on said eccentric for relative rotation therebetween, a compression chamber, a cylinder eccentrically mounted with respect to said rotor and for rotation and surrounding said rotor and eccentric to define said compression chamber, an inlet leading to and an outlet leading from said compression chamber, a divider located between said inlet and said outlet and carried by said cylinder and arranged for rotation therewith and having portions thereof in engagement with said rotor and arranged for reciprocation in said compression chamber responsive to the rotation of the cylinder and the action of the eccentric, in combination with an axial air gap electric motor comprising a stator, a motor rotor fixedly secured to said cylinder, said compression chamber nested within the limits of the motor rotor, whereby said cylinder may be caused to rotate responsive to the rotative forces of the motor rotor.

2. The combination of an axial air gap electric motor and a, compressor disposed within a hermetically sealed casing, said compressor comprising a stud-like support having an integrally formed stationary eccentric, a rotor mounted on said eccentric for relative rotation therebetween, a compression chamber, a rotatable cylinder eccentrically mounted in respect to said rotor and surrounding said rotor and eccentric to define said compression chamber, an inlet leading to and an outlet leading from said compression chamber, a divider located between said inlet and outlet and carried by said cylinder for reciprocation in said compression chamber, and said axial air gap motor comprising a stator, and a motor rotor fixedly secured to said cylinder of the compressor, said compression chamber nested within the limits of the motor rotor and said cylinder being eccentrically mounted for rotation responsive to the rotative forces of the motor rotor.

3. A motor compressor assembly comprising a bell-shaped housing with a, plate-shaped closure member to provide a hermetically sealed casing, a stud-like support member centrally disposed of the casing, a stationary eccentric, a bearing and an end plate which comprise parts of the compressor and formed integral with said studlike support member, a rotor mounted on said eccentric for relative rotation therebetween, a compression chamber, a rotatable cylinder eccentrically mounted in respect to said rotor and surrounding said rotor and eccentric and cooperating with said end plate to define said compression chamber, an inlet leading to and an outlet leading from said compression chamber and a divider located between said inlet and outlet, and an electric motor comprising a stator carried by said closure member, and a motor rotor fixedly secured to said cylinder, said motor rotor defining a torus, said compressor being nested within the inner periphery of said torus, said cylinder being eccentrically mounted for rotation responsive to the rotative forces of the motor rotor.

4. In a motor compressor assembly, the combination comprising a bell-shaped housing with a plate-shaped closure member to provide a hermetically sealed casing, a stud-like support member centrally disposed of the casing and having portions thereof formed to define a stationary eccentric, a bearing and an end plate which comprise parts of the compressor, a rotor mounted on said eccentric for relative rotation therebetween, a compression chamber, a cylinder eccentrically mounted in respect to said rotor and surrounding said rotor and eccentric and cooperating with said end plate to define said compression chamber, an inlet leading to and an outlet leading from said compression chamber, said stud-like support member having fluid conduits running from said inlet into said compression chamber and forming the suction side of the com .9 pressor, a divider located between said inlet and outlet and carried by said cylinder for reciprocation in said compression chamber, and an electric motor comprising a stator carried by said closure member, and a motor rotor fixedly secured to said cylinder, said compression chamber nested within the limits of the motor rotor, said cylinder being eccentrically mounted for rotation responsive to the rotative forces of the motor rotor.

5. A motor compressor assembly comprising a bell-shaped housing with a. plate-shaped closure member to provide a hermetically sealed casing, a stud-like support member centrally disposed of the casing and having portions thereof formed to define a stationary eccentric and an end plate which comprise a part of the compressor, a rotor mounted on said eccentric for relative rotation therebetween, a compression chamber, a cylinder eccentrically mounted in respect to said rotor, a cylinder surrounding said rotor and eccentric and cooperating with said end plate to define said compression chamber, an inlet leading to and an outlet leading from said compression chamber, said stud-like support member having fiuid conduits running from said inlet in said compression chamber and forming the suction side of the compressor, spring pressed valving means disposed in the suction conduit and operable responsive to suction pressures of the compressor, a divider located between said inlet and outlet and carried by said cylinder for reciprocation in said compression chamber, means including a valve operable responsive to discharge pressures of the compressor for discharging compressed liquid and gases from the compression chamber into the casing and forming the compression side of the compressor, and an electric motor comprising a stator carried by said closure member, and a motor rotor fixedly secured to said cylinder, said compressor within the confines of the volume defined by the motor rotor, said cylinder being eccentrically mounted for rotation responsive to the rotative forces of the motor rotor.

6. A motor compressor assembly comprising a bell-shaped housing with a plate-shaped closure member to provide a hermetically sealed casing, a stud-like support member centrally disposed of the casing and having portions thereof formed to define a stationary eccentric and an end plate which comprises part of the compressor, a rotor mounted on said eccentric for relative rotation therebetween, a compression chamber, a cylinder eccentrically mounted in respect to said rotor and surrounding said rotor and said eccentric and cooperating with said end plate to define said compression chamber, an inlet leading to and an outlet leading from said compression chamber, said stud-like support member extending through said closure member and having fluid conduits running from said inlet in said compression chamber and forming the suction side of the compressor, a divider located between said inlet and outlet carried by said cylinder for reciprocation in said compression chamber, means including a valve operable responsive to discharge pressures for distributing compressed liquid and gases from the compression chamber into the casing and forming the compression side of the compressor, and an axial air gap electric motor comprising a stator carried by said closure member and a motor rotor fixedly secured to said cylinder, said compression chamber nested within the limits of the motor rotor, said cylinder being eccentrically mounted for rotation responsive to the rotative forces of the motor rotor about said stud-like support member.

LELAND K. WARRICK. FRANK E. LA FLAME.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,992,348 Belden Feb. 26, 1935 2,172,500 Clements Sept. 12, 1939 2,415,011 Hubacker Jan. 28, 1947 2,440,593 Miller Apr. 27, 1948 2,444,687 Widakowich July 6, 1948 2,534,520 Katcher Dec. 19, 1950 2,541,906 Anderson Feb. 13, 1951 2,557,879 Lewis June 19, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 600,056 Germany July 13, 1934 

